The Most Common Theological Error in the Western Church Today

[jimmyjimmy]

is?

 

[Tigger45]

That 'is' does not mean is but actually means 'isn't' as in "this is my body".

 

[RC1970]

is?

That humans are basically good.

 

[amariselle]

is?

Some form of works based salvation (earning and/or keeping salvation). Sometimes overt, sometimes covert.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

That humans are basically good.

Excellent. I hadn't immediately thought of that one, but it is at the root of almost everything that is wrong in western evangelicalism.

 

[Philip_B]

is?

That we earn our own salvation.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

Some form of works based salvation (earning and/or keeping salvation). Sometimes overt, sometimes covert.

That is huge, and I thin it's origins can be found in what's been listed in post #3. Here's why, if we don't understand just how evil and sinful we are - if we don't understand just how serious the problem is, then we won't understand how sever the treatment is to be.

Most people think that their sin is only as bad as the common cold, so they think the cure is self-improvement, i.e., legalism/moralism.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

That we earn our own salvation.

I don't know anyone in the church who thinks that.

 

[Rubiks]

The prosperity gospel.

That 'is' does not mean is but actually means 'isn't' as in "this is my body".

see this

 

[Halbhh]

The newish theological error I call 'Grace and done' (my moniker for it) where people think they don't have to aim keep Christ's commandments, as if His commandments were all just merely optional. Presumably they don't know about Matthew 7, v 24-27, or other passages of similar import.

This OP just a few days ago did a good job laying out the difference between grace and following vs grace and done, and interestingly the OP has a broad view of these competing views.

Faith Alone

 

[jimmyjimmy]

The prosperity gospel.

I don't like it either. In fact, I hate it, but why do you think it's the very worst problem in the Western church today?

 

[Haipule]

is?

pneuma erroneously translated as "Spirit" which is transliterated from the Latin spiritus and given an impossible meaning that has been reinvented for centuries.

 

[Rubiks]

I don't like it either. In fact, I hate it, but why do you think it's the very worst problem in the Western church today?

I'm not sure what's the worst, but its the theological view I have the most problems with.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

That 'is' does not mean is but actually means 'isn't' as in "this is my body".

That's an easy one. It's called a metaphor. Christ used them a lot.

He's also not a literal gate, shepherd, or door.

 

[mark kennedy]

is?

That miracles are optional.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

That miracles are optional.

What does that mean, firstly?

 

[CrystalDragon]

That humans are basically good.

Why have that not be the case?

 

[mark kennedy]

What does that Ean, firstly?

I've never seen a liberal theologian or a theistic evolutionist ever admit to a miracle. The naturalistic assumptions of our age getting into our theology is the error of our age.

 

[Paidiske]

The one I come across the most, in real life, is the denial of the resurrection. Not so much the denial of Christ's bodily resurrection (although they waver on that too), but the denial that our future hope is a bodily resurrection, rather than some sort of disembodied eternal family reunion in "heaven."

 

[jimmyjimmy]

I've never seen a liberal theologian or a theistic evolutionist ever admit to a miracle. The naturalistic assumptions of our age getting into our theology is the error of our age.

I have little patience for Liberal Protestants too, but I don't think that's the most common error in the Western church.

Maybe you've had more exposure to those types than I have. . .